CORPUS CHRISTI, Texas — A change is coming for motorists at the downtown interchange of Crosstown Expressway Highway 181 and Interstate-37.
As if it weren't already a traffic nightmare during rush hour.
Construction taking place this weekend will eventually lead to a permanent traffic flow change. The roadwork will see closures of the major highways at that intersection before those permanent traffic flow changes according to Lynn Allison with Flatiron-Dragados, the builders of the new Harbor Bridge.
The biggest change is a new ramp heading toward downtown and Portland.
"The commuters heading northbound on 286 will connect to westbound/northbound IH-37 as always via that tall long connector ramp," Allison said. "What's new is they'll be able to connect towards the Bayfront and downtown or to continue to US-181 towards Portland and North Beach."
To give you an idea of the permanent change the current ramp from Crosstown to I-37 East and 181 North will lead to a new ramp. You will no longer use the Comanche/Lipan Street exit but will connect to a new ramp for both downtown and 181 towards Portland that will greatly improve traffic flow.
"This will be final configuration for this new connector ramp connecting State Highway 286 to 37 and to US-181. There will be additional tie ins within a month or six weeks to Antelope Street and the uptown area," Allison said.
Be aware, this weekend's work will actually see the major highways shut down for a short period.
"Commuters will be pushed off onto Comanche Street and follow directional signs and then Saturday, about midday, once that reopens we will be closing a portion of IH-37, all southbound/eastbound lanes at that interchange," she said.
If you can, you may want to avoid the interchange Friday into Sunday but there will be signs redirecting traffic flow if you have to go that way.